Littermate syndrome in dogs

Should you get two puppies of the same litter together?

Littermate syndrome

Also referred to as Littermate aggression or sibling aggression

Littermate syndrome refers to a variety of behavioral issues which arise when dogs of either the same litter or dogs who are very close in age are raised together

Signs of littermate syndrome

There are many signs to look out for if you are suspecting littermate just syndrome in your puppies.

Here are a few signs you should look out for when you are suspecting the puppies to have littermate syndrome.

1. Fear of the unfamiliar

Puppies with littermate syndrome avoid anything new.

Puppies will have legitimate syndrome will avoid new people, other dogs, new things. The will either be very quiet and submissive and approached or be able to display behavior like growling and aggression.

2. High anxiety levels

Specially observed if they are separated

Puppies with littermate syndrome always wanted to be together. They will start to display behavior like barking, pacing, panting, whining or property destruction if they are away from their sibling.

3. Will not eat without the other

Want their sibling close by for any and everything

Such puppies will not eat if they are separated from the sibling. They will keep whining or displaying aggressive behavior till the sibling gets back.

4. Lack of interest in toys

Again observed when the sibling is not around

Dogs with legitimate syndrome will not engage in playtime or interact with any toy if the sibling is not around. Normal puppies prefer to play with their guardians but dogs or puppies with littermate syndrome do not.

Difficult to train

Such puppies are extremely difficult to train because they are either very aggressive or a submissive

Puppies with littermate syndrome make it hard to train them. They keep getting distracted by one another delaying the training process.

Constant fights

A regular complaint from guardians of puppies with littermate syndrome.

Once puppies with littermates and drug reach maturity stage, they start fighting with one another. Most often, these fights can get out of hand and cause severe injury to the submissive pup

Absence of engagement with the guardian

Puppies with littermate syndrome have a voice of their own

Puppies with littermate syndrome or hyper-focused on one another. This leads to them not engaging enough with their guardians.

Failure to develop socialization skills

Happens to do their lack of engagement.

Puppies with littermate syndrome do not learn the right socialization skills with humans and with other dogs. This happens because of that absence of interaction with their guardians as well as with any other dogs. They only interact with one another

Early signs of littermate syndrome

Can be observed within 1 to 2 weeks

If you notice that the puppies us paying more attention to each other down to the Guardian for other dogs in the family, this means that the puppies have littermate syndrome. This behavior would normally become predominant within a week or two of the puppies arriving in their new homes

Dealing with littermate syndrome

This is not an impossible task

Most people think that one of the puppy with littermates and needs to be home so that the other puppy can be trained and cared for. However, rehoming is not required. You can train for the puppies by keeping them in the same house. Click on the above link to read how you can successfully raise sibling puppies

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